Air-chamber fire door



'May 5, 1925.

H. A. JOHNSON AIR CHAMBER FIRE 000R File d May 1. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR- Hawmu .HJaH/vsm/ 1;

- M ORNEYS.

May 5, 1925. 1,536,587

H. A. JOHNSON AIR CHAMBER FIRE DOOR Filed May 31, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS Paten ed May 5, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD A. JOHNSON, OF NORFOLK. VIRGINIA. .ASSIGNOR TO J. G. \VILSON CORPORA- TION, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA,

A. CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

AIR-CHAMBER FIRE DOOR.

Application filed May 31.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l. Howann A. .lonxsox. a citizen of the United States, and resident of Norfolk. Virginia. in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Chamber Fire Doors. of which the fol lowing is a disclosure.

My invention relates to heat retarding doors. and has as one of its objects the provision of a door which may be readily constructed and which Will offer a high degree of protection to inflammable objects from the high temperature on the opposite side of the door.

Another object of my invention is to improve the details of construction of metallic heat retarding doors.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel arrangement of latching means for metallic doors.

The novel features of my invention are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself. however. with further objects and advantages, will best be understood from the following description taken with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a single door of the hinged type made according to my inventlon.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section. on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a double hinged door according to my invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail view, parts being broken away, illustrating the interior construction of the door according to my invention.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of. a door of the horizontal working type made according to my invention.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fi 6.

' ig. 7 is a bottom view of the door in Fig. 6, shown partly in section. v Figs. 1, 3. and 6 illustrate the application of heat retarding doors according to my invention to as many known types of construction, but I do not limit myself to these.

In the drawing, 1 is a Wall or partition of a building or the like in which is a doorway 2. This doorway is normally closed by 1922. Serial No. 564,948.

means of a door 3 according to my invention, this door being hinged as indicated at 3. and normally held closed by means of a counter-balance weight 3", connected to the door by means of a chain, or the like. 3. chain 3 running over suitable idler pulleys, 3 and 3. I provide also a weight 3 which is normally stationary during the operation of door 3 and which is connected to the chain or metal cord 3 which pas es over a pulley 31 on the same pintle as 3 pulley 3 being normally held stationary by a trigger arm the trigger arm being normally held fixed by a chain or metallic cord 3, connected to an eye il or the like fixed in Wall 1, there being a fusible link 3 in the cord or chain 8'. Upon the fusion of link 3 by ab normal temperature the trigger arm 3 and the pulley Il are released. New weight 3 has a hollow centre through which cord 3 runs and. there being no support for weight 3 upon fus ng of link 3 weight 3 slides down chain 3 unt l it strikes weight 3. The weight 3 is thus added to that of El. ensuring the emergency closing of the door. It is, however. not impossible for the door to be opened to permit a person to escape there through.

The construction of the door 3 is illus trated in detail in Figs. 4 and 5. and comprises an outer frame of channel bars. 5 the central weights of which are turned next to the interior of the door structure. thus pro viding grooves along all the outer edges of the door. The bars 5. 5 are preferably welded together at the angles of the door frame and are also connected to brackets 5 at these angles by means of bolts or rivets 5". thereby providing a very strong construction. Between the top and bottom members 5 extend vertical ribs 6 which are preferably of U or channel section as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 and which are the same width as the bars 5. The frame work of bars 5 and the ribs 6 is covered by sheet metal plates 4, the edges of which are vertical and are hooked or beaded together to form seams 4. along vertical planes coinciding with the ribs 6. The seams of plates 4 may, however. run horizontally.

The plates which cover the vertical channels 5 at the sides of the door preferably have their edges beaded or hooked around the edges of the channel bars as indicated at it. he edges of the sheets 4 at the top and bottom of the door are also preferably hooked or beaded over the edges of the flanges of the top and bottom frame bars 5, 5 and may be spot welded. or othewise secured thereto.

The seams of plates 4 are firmly secured to the flanges of ribs 6 by metal fasteners T, which may extend entirely through the door, being either riveted or threaded at the ends. The ribs 6 extend through slots 6* in the top and bottom channel bars 5. the flanges of the ribs being cut away near the ends to provide plain plate portions 6". 6', whi'h extend through the slots 6 and which are bent over as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 to hold the ribs in place. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 5., the flanges of ribs 6 are cut back a sufficient distance from the ends to provide spaces 6, 6 between the ends of flanges of ribs 6 and the central webs of the top and bottom channels 5, 5, thus providing room for expansion in case the ribs are subjected to high temperature. Moreover. top and bottom channels 5. 5 have apertures 5 5 therein permitting the upward draft cooling air to pass through a door according to my invention when it becomes hot.

The open legs of the channel frame bars 5, 5' provid convenient means for securing operating attachment and locking devices within the thickness of the door. thus the hinges 3 do not project without the door 3. Moreover. the latches R. 8 are pivoted between the outer sheets 4 of the door and extend through slots in one of the vertical frame bars 5 between the flanges therof.

It will be understood that the weight and thicknss of the frame bars 5 and the spacing of the ribs 6 may be varied as desired according to the use to which the door is to be put. The arrangement of the cover sheets 4 and method of securing the same gives a maximum rigidity to these sheets. while the constant circulation of relatively cool air through the holes 5' reduces the radiation of heat to a minimum when the door subjected to fire. However. if the door is to be used in refrigerating plant. the holes 5 will be omitted.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 3 is similar in most respects described with respect to Figs. 1 and 2. However. Fig. 2 being a double door. one half the door is latched to its mate and the emergency closimg weights are normally connected to each other through fusible links 3". 3

The door 3 illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 embraces the same advantages of construction: as those previously described, but being of the horizontal sliding or rolling type it is suspended from a bar or trolley 10 by means of trolley hangers 11. 11 which have rollers 12 pivoted thereto running on the trolley it); The trolley 10. hangers 1i. and rollers 19 are all. arranged as. to lie With-in the pro tracted thickness of the door 3 Door 3* is normally held in closed position by means of weight 13 which is partly (OllllttY- balanced for a normal operation of the door by a. weight 14 which tends to open the door. Veight It is connected to door 3 through fusible link 15. and upon fusing of this link weight 14 is disconnected and the emergency closing of the door is obtained by the full force of weight 13. The guide roller X lies entirely within the bottom channel 5.

It will be seen that a door according to my invention is of economical construction but very rigid and durable. The cover sheets are so applied to the frame work of the door as to provide an unbroken non-corroding' surface. Owing to the air chamber within the door and also to the circulation of air which may be provided therethrough a door according to my invention radiates a minimum of heat when subjected to tire. Moreover. due. to this manner of construction. a door according to my invention may be reduced in the field without destroying or disqualifying it as a fire retardant. By arranging all hinges. overhead trolley hangers. latches or slide bolts for securing the door within the thickness of the door. I have eliminated any projecting parts which would be liable to cause th door to be thrown from its hangings in case of fire.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A. heat retarding door comprising a circumferential metal frame work of channel irons. the central webs of said channel irons being turned toward the interior of the door. spaced vertical metal ribs supported by and of the same width as said frame work, in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the door. and metal sheets covering said frame work and ribs and contacting therewith. the edges of said sheets having hooked engagement with the edges of the channel irons in the frame work.

9. A heat retarding door compri ing circumferential metal frame work, spaced vertical metal ribs supported by and of the same width as said frame work. in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the door. and metal sheets covering said frame work and ribs and contacting therewith, the top and bottom members of said frame work having "cntilating apertures thereini.

A heat retarding door comprising a circumferential metal frame work of channel irons. the central webs of said irons being turned toward the interior of the door. spaced vertical metal ribs supported by said frame work. the top and bottom members of said frame work having apertures therein. said me al ribs extending through said apertures. having their ends bent over to hold them in place. and a metallic sheet coverin g supported on said frame Work and ribs.

4. A heat retarding door comprising a circumferential metal frame work of U bars, the central webs of said bars facing the in terior of the door, spaced vertical metal ribs of channel section surrounded by said frame work, the top and bottom members of said frame work having apertures therein, the flanges of said channel ribs being cut away near the ends of the ribs and extending through said apertures. said ribs being. bent over at the ends to hold them in place in raid frame. and the cut away of the ribs extending sufficiently far from their ends to permit the ribs to expand without pressing against the frame work. and a metallic sheet covering for said frame work and ribs on both sides thereof.

5. A heat retarding door comprising a circumferential metal frame work. spaced vertical metal ribs of channel section surround-- ed by and of the same thickness as said frame work, in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the door. metal sheets covering said frame work and ribs on both sides. the edges of said sheets running vertically and being hooked or crimped together along the lines of said ribs. and means securing said ribs and sheets together.

6. A heat retarding door comprising a cir cumferential metal frame work. spaced vertical metal ribs of hannel cross section and of the same width as said frame work in the direction transverse to the plane of the door. said ribs and frame work being connected together, vertical metallic sheets covering both sides of said ribs and frame work and overlapping along the lines of said ribs. and fastening means passing through said ribs and sheets.

7. A heat retarding door comprising a circumferential metal frame work of channel irons. said irons having their central webs turned toward the interior of the door. smooth metallic sheet covers for said frame work. and a latch means pivoted between said coverings and extending through an aperture in the central web of one of the vertical members of said frame work.

8. A fire retarding door comprising a cir' eumferential metal frame work of channel irons. said irons having their central webs turned toward the interior of the door and their flanges parallel to the plane of the door. smooth metallie sheet coverings for said frame work. a hinge. and latch means. both hinge and means extending outwardlv from between the flanges of the vertical members of said frame work.

9. A heat retarding door comprising an outer framework having horizontal members at top and bottom of the door. spaced vertical flanged ribs supported by said framework, said members having apertures therein to receive the ends of said ribs. the flanges of said ribs being cut away, and

the ends of the ribs extending through said members, said ribs being cut away sufficiently far from their ends to permit the. ribs to expand under the influence of high temperature without pressing against said members, and means securing said ribs in position.

10. A fire retarding door comprising a circun'iferential metal framework of channel irons. said irons having their central webs turned toward the centre of the door and their flanges parallel to the plane of the door. metallic sheet coverings for said frame work, and hinges secured between the flanges of one of the vertical members of said framework and extending outwardly therefrom.

11. In combination, a heat retarding door having unobstructed vertical chambers therein, horizontal channel irons enclosing said chambers at top and bottom, and apertures in both of said irons communicating with said chambers and with the atmosphere surrounding the door, whereby, when the door is closed in the presence of excessive temperature. said apertures increase the heat retarding properties of the door bv natural ventilation of the chambers.

12. In combination. a heat retarding door having unobstructed vertical chambers therein, horizontal channel irons enclosing said chambers at top and bottom and having their central webs turned toward the interior of the door. and ventilating apertures in both of said webs.

13. A heat retarding door comprising a circumferential metal frame work of channel irons. the central webs of said irons being turned toward the interior of the door. spaced vertical metal ribs supported by said frame work. the top and bottom members of said frame work having apertures therein. said metal ribs extending through said apertures and having their ends bent over to hold them in place. a metallic sheet covering supported on said frame work and ribs, and ventilating apertures in said top and bottom members of said frame work.

14. A heat retarding door having unobstructed vertical chambers therein. comprising a circumferential metal frame work of channel irons. the central web of one of said irons being turned toward the center of the door and having its flanges parallel to the plane of the door. sheets of fire-resistant material supported by said irons. supporting means for the door secured between said flanges and within the planes of said sheets. and ventilating apertures in the central webs of the top and bottom channel irons.

15. A heat retarding door comprising a circumferential metal frame work of channel irons, the central web of one of said irons being turned toward the center of the door and having its flanges parallel to the plane of the door, spaced vertical ribs supported by said frame work, sheets of fireresistant material covering said frame work and ribs, supporting means for the door secured between said flanges and within the planes of said sheets, and ventilating apertures in the central webs of the top and bottom channel irons.

16. A heat retarding door comprising a circumferential metal frame work of channel irons, the central webs of said channel irons being turned towards the interior of the door, spaced vertical. ribs supported by said frame work, sheets of fire resistant material covering said frame work and ribs and contacting therewith, the top and bottom members of said frame Work having ventilating apertures therein and means for supporting said door with said top and bottom apertures free of adjacent Walls whereby air may have an unobstructed passage through said apertures when the door is i1 closed position.

HOWARD A. JOHNSON. 

